A sphere is a perfect shape and the historic Acid Ball in Bellingham, WA is prime for projection mapping.

For Earth Day 2022 the goal was to activate the recently retrofitted waterfront sculpture with imagery and visuals of the planet.

By using multiple high powered projectors, custom visuals, and mapping magic a unique and beautiful experience was delivered to scores of downtown residents over the course of one evening.

To see the Acid Ball illuminated in such a creative way was a highlight for the whole town.

What is most days a relic of the past along the Waypoint Park was utterly transformed in a positive and uplifting way for one of the most treasured Pacific Northwest holidays.

For 1 hour over that evening a projection mapping show, with sound, was shone on the 360º spherical surface showcasing weather patterns and other Earth imagery that fit precisely to the curved surface.

To create looks that work on a sphere a little geometry and math is in order.

By using high resolution Earth imagery from NASA and the ESA we were able to realize a number of vivid and beautiful scenes where weather data, satellite imagery, and atmospheric patterns could be projected onto the sphere in a true to shape fashion.

How do clouds move from the south to the north?

What does it look like when ocean currents meet in the Atlantic?

Questions like this could be answered by simply viewing and appreciating the projection mapped visuals on the Acid Ball itself as the show played on.

When working in the outdoors in the PNW it is best to be prepared for any weather.

To ensure the success of the show the team had in place multiple weather ready contingencies as well as backup power sources for the 2 high powered laser projectors activating 210º of the sphere.

This way the guests could focus on enjoying the show the evening no matter what the weather was looking like.